Women in Horror Spotlight

February is Women in Horror Month, and although I have barely scrapped the surface of all the talented female writers in the history of horror, I thought I’d promote some of the works I have read by female writers.

Mary Shelley, the foremother of horror, the creator of Frankenstein and his monster, the writer of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. Everything that could be said about her has already been said, so I won’t waste too much time here. Without her, I doubt many horror writers, female or male, would be writing today.

Shirley Jackson, another foremother of horror, the author of The Haunting of Hill House, a staple in horror and some could considered the best haunted house story of all time. Although I haven’t read all of her work, I also enjoyed We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Like Shelley, everything good that could be said about her has, and I won’t waste anymore time.

Anne Rice, the author of the Vampire Chronicles series among dozens of other novels to her name. She brought vampires to the forefront in a way others had not, and her books could easily be stand by Stoker’s Dracula.

Caitlín R. Kiernan, an extremely talented writer whose prose is something to long for in all writers. Her works have been published in numerous anthologies, magazines, and many of her novels are published.

The works I have read from the stories in The Weirder Shadows Over Innsmouth, containing three of her stories alone, to her novella, Black Helicopters, I have hardly dipped my toes in her work but I plan to this year. I highly recommend anyone to read her work, which can be found on Amazon.

Kristi DeMeester, another extremely talented writer whose stories stand out among the others in weird fiction and horror. She has been published in numerous anthologies, and her novel Beneath was published in Word Horde, and her collection Everything That’s Underneath is something fans of weird, short stories shouldn’t ignore. You can find her work on Amazon.

Cassandra Khaw, an author of the weird and horror. Although I’ve only read one of her books, Hammers on Bones (the sequel sitting in my to-buy list), she has been published in several anthologies and have works published in multiple outlets. You can purchase her work on Amazon.

Nadia Bulkin, a horror/weird fiction author who has had dozens of her stories published in many anthologies, websites, and magazines. Her debut collection of short stories She Said Destroy was published by Word Horde as well. You can purchase her work on Amazon.

Sarah Langan, a three-time Bram Stoker award winner, Langan has published a handful of novels, and her stories have appeared in several anthologies. Her novel The Keeper is a book you shouldn’t skip if you enjoy horror overall, or Stephen King.

S.J. Budd, a horror writer whose stories have appeared in several anthologies, and most recently, had her novelette published in Sounds of the Night from Infinite Realm. The story I’ve read by her, “The Forgotten House,” appeared in Aphotic Realm’s best stories of 2017. Her work can be found on her website.

Ruthanna Emrys, a weird fiction writer who brought Lovecraft’s Innsmouth into the more modern world, and crafted his tale of isolation and intolerance into something completely different and good, in Winter Tide. You can buy her work on Amazon.

I would highly recommend checking out Women in Horror Month’s website, and purchase a ticket for one of their events.

"This collection of stories comes chock-full of psychological weirdness as well as gritty detailed creature horror, a combination I personally enjoy." — J. Anderson, author of For A Glimpse Beyond the Terminus"Reading The Abyss Beyond the Reflection reminded me of how much fun horror and weird fiction can be. The way everything is described brought the stories to life and every character showed amazing depth." — D. Watson, The All Night Library